Drew Traditions

New Student Orientation: An official rite of passage for every incoming First Year Student, New Student Orientation takes place in the days leading up to the start of the Fall and Spring semester. Consisting totally of current Drew students, the Orientation Committee, aka the Mighty OC, serve as big siblings to the incoming students as they take part in numerous activities designed to welcome and excite new students as they begin their journey in the Forest.

First Year Candlelight and Pinning Ceremony: Each year members of the Drew community come together on the first night of New Student Orientation to ceremoniously welcome our newest students with an intimate ceremony and present each with a pin signifying the start of their Drew life. Held in the Tolley/Brown Circle and attended by upperclassmen students, alumni/ae, faculty, and staff, this is an unforgettable experience for each student as they begin their Drew chapter.

Bear-B-Que: Held annually in the Fall semester, the Bear-B-Que is a tailgate-style event happening before one of the first fall sports team’s home games. Hosted by Student Activities and Campus Recreation, the entire Drew community is invited to come down to the field before the game, enjoy some amazing food, compete for some awesome prizes, and get ready to show off their Drew pride as they cheer on the Drew Rangers.

Roast & Roll: Held each fall, the Roast & Roll is a relatively new tradition combining fun, food, and the fabulous fall weather. Beginning with a supermarket carriage race, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to form teams to decorate their own cart and choose a member of their team to be pushed through campus, ending at the Tolley/Brown Circle. Immediately following the “race” is a delicious cookout and bonfire. Past menu items have included a pig roast and smores.

Family Weekend: Traditionally held in early October, Drew invites parents and families for a weekend of events that showcase our amazing students and their experiences on campus. With events spanning from Friday evening to Sunday morning, students and families can attend performances, lectures, a large barbeque, and so much more.

UPB Haunted House: Each October the University Program Board hosts a haunted house. Entirely conceived, created, and enacted by our own UPB members, this is a truly frightening haunted house! Past locations have included Asbury Hall, the Carriage House, and Welch Hall. We invite the Drew and greater Madison community to attend, and even have a less scarier, family friendly time that younger children can attend. But beware, as the witching hour approaches, the UPB haunted house goes into high gear and is NOT for the faint of heart!

Hoyt Halloween: Dating back at least twenty years, Hoyt Halloween is an annual costume party hosted by the Hoyt/Asbury residence hall complex. Previously an event exclusively for Hoyt residents only, in recent years it has expanded to include all resident and commuter undergraduates and includes amazing food, games, prizes, and of course, candy and costumes!

Thanksgiving in the Commons: Dining Services hosts a Thanksgiving dinner each November, typically the week before the Thanksgiving holiday. Open to the entire community, the bill of fare is a traditional turkey dinner complete with all the trimmings. Students, faculty and staff come out to give thanks and to enjoy a wonderful meal with their Drew family.

Senior Champagne Toast (pre-Holiday Ball): A long-standing Senior class tradition, the Senior Champagne Toast is held just before the annual Holiday Ball and is a chance for the class to come together and toast to the end of the semester as well as their last Holiday Ball as Drewids.

Holiday Ball: Drew’s annual holiday themed semi-formal. Traditionally held in Baldwin Gym, undergraduate students are invited to dress to impress for a night of fun, dinner, and dancing. With past themes like “Once Upon a Time” and “Winter in the Forest,” the Holiday Ball is the last large event of the Fall semester before the end of classes.

End of Classes Jam: Drew’s history of amazing A Capella performances is long standing. Each semester our three a capella groups, 36 Madison Avenue, All of the Above, and On a Different Note perform a concert on the evening of the last day of classes for the semester. It’s a truly wonderful way to celebrate the end of the semester before hunkering down for finals.

99 Nights (Until Graduation): Dating back at least thirty-five years, 99 Nights is literally that: 99 nights until graduation day. This seniors-only event celebrates our graduating class with delicious food and drink and a night of dancing and toasting.

Winterfest: Hosted by Student Activities, Winterfest is an annual celebration of all things winter. Held outdoors in the Tolley/Brown Circle during a crisp February Saturday, past activities have included ice sculptor demonstrations, horse & carriage rides, a bonfire, personalized mugs and hot cocoa as well as music and amazing food.

Junior/Senior Semi Formal: Each year the Junior class Student Government senators plan an amazing semi formal dance for current juniors and seniors and their dates every April. Held off campus most recently at the Hanover Marriot, the Junior/Senior is an elegant evening of food and music that is not to be missed.

Jamfest: Planned and hosted by Drew’s all male a capella group, 36 Madison Avenue, Jamfest is an annual tradition dating back at least twenty years. Each spring in Baldwin Gym, together with our resident a capella groups, the members of 36 Madison Avenue welcome a capella groups from other schools for a concert showcasing some of the best a capella has to offer. Alumni are always in attendance and the Mad Ave alumni song packs the stage with former and current members united once again.

Fern Fest: Fern fest is an annual Earth Week celebration and gardening event at Drew. Students gather each spring to replace a section of campus lawn with diverse native ferns and wildflowers, helping to restore the forest ecosystem that once thrived here. Small shrubs and trees are also planted. The Fern Fest event also includes other activities, depending on interests of the organizing students: tie-dying, craft and food booths, and bands playing into the evening. The end results: enhanced biodiversity on campus, a fun community celebration, and some good environmental education for all.

Recognition Awards: The Office of Student Activities recognizes student leaders and their outstanding accomplishments at this annual ceremony held in April. We invite students to celebrate with members of their families and friends on campus in this exciting and much deserved campus-wide recognition to honor the hard work and tireless dedication of student leaders at Drew University.

First Annual Picnic: The First Annual Picnic, or FAP for short, is held on the first Friday in May on the Hoyt Lawn. Hosted by the University Program Board and Student Activities, FAP is a community wide even that includes games, food, prizes, live music and so much more. Past themes have included Cinco de Mayo, Jungle Animals, Carnival, and countless others.

Sloppy Saturday: Like the First Annual Picnic, Sloppy Saturday is an annual event held the first weekend in May on the Hoyt Lawn. Hosted by the Hoyt/Asbury residence complex, Sloppy Saturday is an event for all students that typically includes deliciously messy foods and a beer garden for those of legal age.

Senior Week: Planned each year by the senior class Student Government senators and held during the week leading up to graduation. With both on and off campus events such as trips to sporting events and vineyards as well as on-campus dances, pig roasts, and food truck visits, Senior Week is a time for our senior class to spend their last days together as classmates before venturing out of the Forest.

Senior Pinning Ceremony: The night before graduation we come together for the last time in a candlelight ceremony celebrating our seniors. Each senior receives a special pin signifying their transition from student to alum during this intimate and moving ceremony in the Tolley/Brown Circle.